Seeing aid device having inductive battery charging

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a visual aid apparatus ( 1 ), in particular an optically or electronically magnifying visual aid apparatus ( 1 ), comprising at least one electrical or electronic functional component ( 2 ) that consumes electrical energy in at least one operating state, at least one rechargeable electrical energy store ( 3 ) that is assigned to the at least one electrical or electronic functional component ( 2 ), at least one inductive element ( 4 ) that is assigned to the at least one electrical energy store ( 3 ) and configured to supply the at least one electrical energy store ( 3 ) with electrical energy by way of an inductive interaction with at least one further inductive element ( 5 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a United States national stage entry of anInternational Application serial no. PCT/EP2016/071448 filed Sep. 12,2016 which claims priority to German Patent Application serial no. 102015 117 403.0 filed Oct. 13, 2015. The contents of these applicationsare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if set forthverbatim.

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to visual aid apparatus, in particular anoptically or electronically magnifying visual aid apparatus.

Corresponding visual aid apparatuses are known per se, for example inthe form of optical or electronic magnifiers. Corresponding visual aidapparatuses may comprise electrical or electronic functional componentsfor expanding the functionality thereof, for instance by way ofintegrated illuminants.

Electrical supply of corresponding electrical or electronic functionalcomponents is effectuated by way of a rechargeable electrical energystore, for example in the form of an accumulator, which has tooccasionally be charged, i.e. supplied with electrical energy. To thisend, the visual aid apparatus should be connected to an externalelectrical energy source by way of a supply cable; this may becomplicated under certain circumstances, particularly for visuallyimpaired users.

Proceeding therefrom, there is a need for developing appropriate visualaid apparatuses in view of the ease-of-use when charging therechargeable electrical energy store.

The invention is based on the object of specifying an improved visualaid apparatus in comparison therewith.

The object is achieved by a visual aid apparatus according to theclaims. The dependent claims in this respect relate to specialembodiments of the visual aid apparatus.

The visual aid apparatus described herein serves, in particular, as anoptically or electronically magnifying visual aid. Accordingly, themagnification of objects to be observed, i.e. in particular articles,image-based and/or text-based information contents, etc., that can berealized by means of the visual aid apparatus can be effectuated(purely) optically or (purely) electronically. Accordingly, the visualaid apparatus can be embodied, for example, as a mobile or stationaryoptical or electronic magnifier, in particular optical or electronichandheld magnifier, optical or electronic stand magnifier or optical orelectronic hands-free magnifier, or as an optical or electronicmagnifying glass, etc.

Thus, the visual aid apparatus can be embodied for purely opticalmagnification, for example in the form of an optical magnifier, whereinit comprises at least one optical element, typically a lens ormagnifying glass, or it can be embodied for purely electronicmagnification, for example in the form of an electronic magnifier,wherein it comprises at least one indication or display element forpresenting electronically magnified objects in addition to an electronicmagnification device that is implemented in terms of software and/orhardware.

The visual aid apparatus comprises at least one electrical or electronicfunctional component (electrical load) that consumes electrical energyin at least one operating state. The functional component consumeselectrical energy (electric current) in order to be put into operationor kept in operation. Different operating states of the functionalcomponent may differ in terms of the respectively consumed electricalenergy.

In the case of an optically magnifying visual aid apparatus, i.e. in thecase of an optical magnifier, for example, a corresponding functionalcomponent can be e.g. an illuminant, for example in the form of alight-emitting diode (LED), which, in at least one operating state,emits light with certain optical properties, i.e., in particular, acertain intensity and a certain wavelength. A corresponding illuminantimproves the visual aid apparatus to the extent that the object to bemagnified thereby can be illuminated by means of the illuminant and, inthis respect, can be perceived better, particularly in the case of poorlight conditions.

In the case of an electronically magnifying visual aid apparatus, i.e.,for example, in the case of an electronic magnifier, a correspondingfunctional component can be e.g. an indication or display element forpresenting electronically magnified objects.

Irrespective of the specific embodiment of the at least one functionalcomponent, it is assigned at least one rechargeable electrical energystore. The functional component is supplied or can be supplied withelectrical energy by way of the rechargeable electrical energy store,which is referred to briefly as “energy store” below. Typically, theenergy store is an accumulator or a battery or the energy storecomprises at least one thereof.

What is essential for the visual aid apparatus described herein is thatcharging processes of the energy store can be effectuated in wirelessfashion. Accordingly, the visual aid apparatus need not be connected toa supply cable within the scope of appropriate charging processes forthe energy store, which significantly improves the handling thereof. Asmentioned at the outset, connecting a visual aid apparatus to acorresponding supply cable may, under certain circumstances, beinconvenient, particularly for visually impaired users.

Wireless charging processes for the energy store are possible becausethe energy store can be inductively charged, i.e. inductively suppliedwith electrical energy. To this end, the visual aid apparatus comprisesat least one inductive element assigned to the energy store, saidinductive element typically being in the form of an inductive coil(receiver or secondary coil). The inductive element is configured tosupply the energy store with electrical energy by way of inductiveinteraction with at least one further inductive element that istypically in the form of a further inductive coil (transmitter orprimary coil). The further inductive element is not a constituent partof the visual aid apparatus but, as explained below, a constituent partof a separate charger apparatus for charging the energy store of thevisual aid apparatus. An apparatus-side inductive element may bereferred to as “first inductive element”; a charger-apparatus-sidefurther inductive element may be referred to as “second inductiveelement”.

Inductive interaction should be understood to mean a wireless inductiveenergy transfer. Here, a magnetic field, in particular an alternatingmagnetic field, is produced in the further inductive element that servesas a transmitter or primary coil, as a result of which a voltage, inparticular an AC voltage, is induced in the (apparatus-side) inductiveelement that serves as receiver or secondary coil.

There is an electrically conductive connection between the inductiveelement and the energy store are assigned thereto, and so electricalenergy produced in the (apparatus-side) inductive element in the case ofinductive interaction with a further inductive element with the scope ofthe charging process of the energy store can be supplied to the energystore.

Inductive charging processes of the energy store are typicallycontrolled by way of a control device. Accordingly, the visual aidapparatus can comprise a control device, optionally connected betweenthe at least one (apparatus-side) inductive element and the at least oneenergy store, that is configured to control the charge state and/or thecharging operation of the energy store and to ascertain at least onecharge state and/or charging operation information item that describesthe charge state and/or the charging operation of the energy store. Acorresponding control device can be implemented in terms of softwareand/or hardware.

Furthermore, the visual aid apparatus can comprise an output device thatis assigned to the control device, said output device being configuredto output at least one charge state or charging operation informationitem that was ascertained by the control device to a user and/or to auser-side (mobile) terminal, i.e., for example, a cellular telephone,smartphone, laptop, tablet, a smartwatch, etc. In the case of a directoutput of appropriate charge state and/or charging operation informationitems to a user, a corresponding output device is configured, inparticular, to output appropriate charge state and/or charging operationinformation items in an acoustic and/or optical and/or haptic manner.Certain charging or charging operation states can accordingly be outputby certain assignable or assigned acoustic and/or optical and/or hapticsignals. To this end, the output device may be embodied as a loudspeakerdevice for outputting acoustic signals with a certain intensity(volume), frequency and rhythm and/or as an indication device, embodiedas a light-emitting diode in the simplest case, for outputting opticalsignals with a certain graphical presentation, frequency and rhythmand/or as a vibration device for outputting haptic signals with acertain intensity, frequency and rhythm, or the output device maycomprise at least one thereof. When outputting appropriate charge stateand/or charging operation information items to a user-side (mobile)terminal, the output device is configured to transmit correspondingcharge state and/or charging operation information items directly orindirectly, i.e. via a communications network, for example, to auser-side (mobile) terminal.

The geometric structural arrangement or embodiment of the energy storeor of the inductive element assigned thereto should be chosen, as amatter of principle, depending on the respective specific geometricstructural configuration of the visual aid apparatus.

A possible geometric structural configuration of the visual aidapparatus provides for a main body, in particular an elongate main body,having at least one mounting portion for mounting at least one opticalelement, in particular a lens or a magnifying glass, or an electronicelement, in particular an indication or display element for displayingelectronically magnified objects, and at least one handling portion forhandling the main body.

The main body may have an integral or multipart embodiment. A main bodywith a multipart embodiment comprises a plurality of main body elementsthat are connectable to one another or connected to one another in theassembled state of the visual aid apparatus. The connection of the mainbody elements can be releasable such that access may be provided into aninterior delimited by a main body, in which different constituent partof the visual aid apparatus, such as e.g. the energy store, are arrangedor embodied, by releasing the connection of at least two main bodyelements. The mounting portion and handling portion may be present ascorresponding main body elements; however, equally, the mounting portionand the handling portion may have a multipart embodiment such that amain body segment may also be a mounting portion segment or a handlingportion segment.

Independently of the integral or multipart embodiment of the main body,the inductive element may be arranged or embodied at or in the main bodyin the region of the handling portion. The same applies to the energystore and/or the control device and/or the output device.

Expediently, the inductive element is arranged within the main bodybelow a longitudinal (central) axis of the handling portion, inparticular in the region of the inner side of an outer wall of thehandling portion. The expediency of this arrangement of the inductiveelement consists of the inductive element, firstly, being arranged in awell-protected manner against external influences, i.e., for example,mechanical and/or climatic influences, and, secondly, being able to bebrought as close as possible to a further inductive element within thescope of a charging process for the energy store, ensuring a higheffectiveness of the inductive interaction and hence of the chargingprocess.

The handling portion can have, at least in portions, an ergonomic, i.e.bulbous, geometric form, which further improves the handling of thevisual aid apparatus. Accordingly, the cross section of the handlingportion may be, at least in portions, circular or round, i.e. ellipsoidor oval.

As mentioned previously, a functional component can be an illuminant,for example a light-emitting diode (LED), which, in at least oneoperating state, emits light with certain optical properties, i.e., inparticular, a certain intensity and a certain wavelength. Such anilluminant is expediently arranged in the region of the mountingportion, and so light emitted by the illuminant strikes on at least theobject that is or can be observed through the optical element. In thecase of an optical visual aid apparatus, a stop portion may be arrangedor embodied between the illuminant and the mounting portion or theoptical element mounted thereby, as mentioned e.g. a lens or amagnifying glass, said stop portion being configured to prevent lightemitted by the illuminant directly striking the optical element.

The invention further relates to a charger apparatus for charging anenergy store of a visual aid apparatus as described above. The chargerapparatus comprises at least one inductive element, i.e. an inductivecoil (transmitter or primary coil), that is configured to inductivelyinteract with an inductive element (receiver or secondary coil) assignedto an energy store, to be charged, of the visual aid apparatus in orderto supply or charge the energy store in wireless fashion with electricalenergy by way of inductive interaction. Naturally, in principle, energystores of a plurality of apparatuses can also be inductively charged orsupplied with electrical energy by way of a corresponding chargerapparatus. All embodiments in conjunction with the visual aid apparatusapply analogously to the charger apparatus, and vice versa.

The charger apparatus may have a housing body which has at least onebearing portion, in particular at least one flat bearing portion, forbearing the housing body on a base, in particular a flat base i.e., forexample, on a furniture board, in particular a table top, whichfacilitates a secure setup of the charger apparatus on a base, and/or atleast one receiving portion for receiving, at least in portions and atleast during a charging process of the respectively assigned energystore, the visual aid apparatus, which facilitates a safe and compactmount of the visual aid apparatus at or in the housing body.

Accordingly, the receiving portion can have at least one receivingcontour that has an inverted shape to the outer contour of a main body,in particular a handling portion of the main body, of the visual aidapparatus. The receiving contour can be embodied by, for example, adepression, in particular a trough-like depression, at or in the housingbody, in which the apparatus-side main body is receivable.

The charger device can comprise a control device that is configured tocontrol the charging operation of the energy store and ascertain acharging operation information item that describes the chargingoperation of the energy store.

In a manner analogous to the apparatus-side control device, an outputdevice may also be assigned to the charger-apparatus-side controldevice, said output device being configured to output at least onecharging operation information item, ascertained by the control device,to a user and/or to a user-side (mobile) terminal. The explanations madein conjunction with the apparatus-side output device apply analogously.

The invention further relates to a charging arrangement for charging anenergy store of a visual aid apparatus as described above by means of acharger apparatus as described above. All explanations made inconjunction with the visual aid apparatus and the charger apparatusapply analogously to the arrangement.

Finally, the invention relates to a method for charging energy store ofa visual aid apparatus as described above, in particular by means of acharger apparatus as described above. According to the invention, theenergy store to be charged is supplied with electrical energy, and hencecharged, within the scope of a charging process by way of an inductiveinteraction between the at least one apparatus-side inductive elementand at least one charger-apparatus-side further inductive element. Allof the explanations in conjunction with the visual aid apparatus, thecharger apparatus and the arrangement apply analogously to the method.

The invention is explained in more detail in the following figures onthe basis of exemplary embodiments. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a visual aid apparatus according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 2, 3 respectively show a schematic diagram of a charger apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a charging arrangement according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration visual aid apparatus accordingto a further exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section through the visual aid apparatusshown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a visual aid apparatus 1 accordingto an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 1 shows, in the form of an opticalmagnifier, an exemplary embodiment of a corresponding visual aidapparatus 1, which serves as an optically magnifying visual aid.

In principle, an exemplary embodiment of the visual aid apparatus 1,e.g. in the form of an electronic magnifier, could also be anelectronically magnifying visual aid apparatus 1 which serves as anelectronically magnifying visual aid. Accordingly, in principle, themagnification of objects to be observed, i.e., in particular, articles,image-based and/or text-based information contents, etc., realized bymeans of the visual aid apparatus 1, can in principle be effectuated(purely) optically or (purely) electronically.

The visual aid apparatus 1 comprises one or more electrical orelectronic functional component(s) 2 (electrical loads) that consumeelectrical energy in at least one operating state. A correspondingfunctional component 2 consumes electrical energy (electric current) inorder to be put into operation or kept in operation. Different operatingstates of the functional component 2 can differ in terms of therespectively consumed electrical energy.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the functional component 2is an illuminant, e.g. in the form of a light-emitting diode (LED), foremitting light, i.e. an illuminant which, in at least one operatingstate, emits light with certain optical properties, i.e., in particular,a certain intensity and a certain wavelength. In the case of anelectronically magnifying visual aid apparatus 1, a correspondingfunctional component 2 could be an indication or display element, forexample, for presenting electronically magnified objects.

Independently of the specific embodiment of the functional component 2,a rechargeable electrical energy store 3 is assigned thereto. Thefunctional component 2 can be supplied or is supplied with electricalenergy by way of the energy store 3. The energy store 3 is anaccumulator or the energy store 3 comprises at least one suchaccumulator.

The visual aid apparatus 1 is configured in such a way that chargingprocesses of the energy store 3 can be effectuated in wireless fashion.Accordingly, the visual aid apparatus 1 need not be connected to asupply cable within the scope of corresponding charging processes of theenergy store 3, which significantly improves the handling of said visualaid apparatus.

Wireless charging processes of the energy store 3 are therefore possiblebecause the energy store 3 can be inductively charged, i.e. inductivelysupplied with electrical energy. To this end, the visual aid apparatus 1comprises an inductive element 4, assigned to the energy store 3, in theform of an inductive coil (receiver or secondary coil). The inductiveelement 4 is configured to supply the energy store 3 with electricalenergy by way of an inductive interaction with a further inductiveelement 5 in the form of a further inductive coil (transmitter orprimary coil). The further inductive element 5 is not a constituent partof the visual aid apparatus 1 but a constituent part of a separatecharger apparatus 6, respectively shown in a schematic diagram in FIGS.2, 3, for charging the energy store 3 of the visual aid apparatus 1.There is an electrically conductive connection between the inductiveelement 4 and the energy store 3, and so electrical energy produced inthe (apparatus-side) inductive element 4 in the case of inductiveinteraction with a further inductive element 5 within the scope of acharging process of the energy store 3 can be supplied to the energystore 3.

Inductive interaction should be understood to mean a wireless inductiveenergy transfer. Here, a magnetic field, in particular an alternatingmagnetic field, is produced in the further inductive element 5 thatserves as a transmitter or primary coil, as a result of which a voltage,in particular an AC voltage, is induced in the apparatus-side inductiveelement 4 that serves as receiver or secondary coil.

Inductive charging processes of the energy store 3 are controlled by wayof an apparatus-side control device 7. The control device 7 that isconnected between the inductive element 4 and the energy store 3 isconfigured to control the charge state and/or the charging operation ofthe energy store 3 and to ascertain at least one charge state and/orcharging operation information item that describes the charge stateand/or the charging operation of the energy store 3. The control device7 can be implemented in terms of software and/or hardware.

An output device 8 can be assigned to the control device 7, said outputdevice being configured to output a charge state or charging operationinformation item that was ascertained by the control device 7 to a userand/or to a user-side (mobile) terminal, i.e., for example, a cellulartelephone, smartphone, laptop, tablet, a smartwatch, etc. In the case ofa direct output of appropriate charge state and/or charging operationinformation items to a user, the output device 8 is configured, inparticular, to output appropriate charge state and/or charging operationinformation items in an acoustic and/or optical and/or haptic manner.Certain charging or charging operation states can accordingly be outputby certain assignable or assigned acoustic and/or optical and/or hapticsignals. To this end, the output device 8 may be embodied as aloudspeaker device for outputting acoustic signals with a certainintensity (volume), frequency and rhythm and/or as an indication device9 (see FIGS. 5, 6), embodied as a light-emitting diode in the simplestcase, for outputting optical signals with a certain graphicalpresentation, frequency and rhythm and/or as a vibration device foroutputting haptic signals with a certain intensity, frequency andrhythm, or the output device may comprise at least one thereof. Whenoutputting appropriate charge state and/or charging operationinformation items to a user-side (mobile) terminal, the output device 8is configured to transmit corresponding charge state and/or chargingoperation information items directly or indirectly, i.e. via acommunications network, for example, to a user-side (mobile) terminal.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a charger apparatus 6 for chargingan energy store 3 of a visual aid apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 1. Thecharger apparatus 6 comprises at least one inductive element 5, i.e. aninductive coil (transmitter or primary coil), which is configured toinductively interact with the inductive element 4 (receiver or secondarycoil) assigned to the energy store 3, to be charged, of the visual aidapparatus 1 in order to supply or charge the energy store 3 in wirelessfashion with electrical energy by way of an inductive interaction.

The charger apparatus 6 comprises a housing body 10. The main body 10that is embodied in a plate-like or plate-shaped manner in FIG. 2 has aflat bearing portion 11 for bearing the housing body 10 on a base, inparticular a flat base, i.e., for example, on a furniture board, inparticular a table top. The bearing portion 11 is formed by the lowerside of the housing body 10 that faces a respective base and facilitatesa secure setup of the charger apparatus 6 on a base. The housing body 10further has a receiving portion 12 for receiving at least portions ofthe visual aid apparatus 1, at least during a charging process of theenergy store 3 assigned thereto. The receiving portion 12 is formed bythe upper side of the housing body 10 that faces away from a respectivebase in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and it is consequentlylikewise flat.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the bearing portion 11 islikewise formed by the lower side of the housing body 10 that faces arespective base—in a manner analogous to the exemplary embodiment shownin FIG. 2—and it facilitates a secure setup of the charger apparatus 6on a base. By contrast, the receiving portion 12 is formed by areceiving contour 13 that has an inverted shape to the outer contour ofa main body 14 of the visual aid apparatus 1, in particular of ahandling portion 15 of the main body 14 of the visual aid apparatus 1that is described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments shown inFIGS. 5, 6, said receiving contour being in the form of a depression, inparticular a trough-like depression, and said receiving portion 12facilitates a particularly secure and compact mount of the visual aidapparatus 1 at or in the housing body 10.

The charger apparatus 6 can comprise a control device (not shown), whichis configured to control the charging operation of the energy store 3and to ascertain a charging operation information item that describesthe charging operation of the energy store 3. In a manner analogous tothe apparatus-side control device 7, an output device 16, for example inthe form of an indication device, may be assigned to thecharger-apparatus-side control device, too, said output device beingconfigured to output, e.g. optically output, at least one chargingoperation information item, ascertained by the control device, to a userand/or to a user-side (mobile) terminal.

The charger apparatus 6 is equipped with an electrical connectionelement 16, for example in the form of a connector or plug-in socket,for connecting an electrical supply cable for connecting the chargerapparatus 6 to an external electrical energy source (power source). Theelectrical connection element 16 is arranged or formed at an easilyaccessible exposed portion of the housing body 10.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a charging arrangement forcharging an energy store 3 of a visual aid apparatus 1, as shown in FIG.1, by means of a charger apparatus 6, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3. Within thescope of the charging process, the visual aid apparatus 1 is arranged onthe charger apparatus 6, i.e. placed onto the latter or placed into thelatter, in such a way that an inductive interaction is possible betweenthe apparatus-side inductive element 4 and the charger-apparatus-sideinductive element 5.

Using the charging arrangement shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to carryout a method for charging an energy store 3 of a visual aid apparatus 1.According to the method, the energy store 3 to be charged is suppliedwith electrical energy, and hence charged, within the scope of acharging process by way of inductive interaction between theapparatus-side inductive element 4 and a further inductive element 5.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration of a visual aid apparatus 1according to a specific exemplary embodiment; FIG. 6 shows alongitudinal section through the visual aid apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 5.In principle, the explanations made in conjunction with the visual aidapparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 in a schematic diagram apply analogously tothe exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5, 6 or the explanations made inconjunction with the visual aid apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 in aschematic diagram can be transferred to the exemplary embodiment shownin FIGS. 5, 6.

A main body 14, in particular an elongate main body, of the visual aidapparatus 1 can be seen on the basis of FIGS. 5, 6. The main body 14 issubdivided, at least functionally, into a mounting portion 18 formounting an optical element 19, i.e. a lens or magnifying glass, and ahandling portion 20 for handling the main body 14. The handling portion20 has an ergonomic geometric form, i.e., for example, a bulbousgeometric form, which further improves the handling of the visual aidapparatus 1.

It is clear from FIG. 6 that the inductive element 4 is arranged in theregion of the handling portion 20 in the main body 14. The same appliesto the energy store 3, the control device 7 and the functional component2, which is an illuminant, i.e. a light-emitting diode (LED), that emitslight with certain optical properties, i.e., in particular, a certainintensity and a certain wavelength, in at least one operating state.

The illuminant is arranged adjacent to the mounting portion 18 in theregion of the handling portion 20 such that light emitted therebystrikes at least the object that can be or is observed through theoptical element 19. A stop portion 24 is arranged or formed between theilluminant and the mounting portion 18, or the optical element 19mounted thereby, said stop portion 24 being configured to prevent lightemitted by the illuminant from directly striking the optical element 19.

The functional component 2 is associated with an actuation element 21 inthe form of a slider that is mounted on the main body 14 such that it ismovable relative thereto between two different positions, as indicatedby the double-headed arrow in FIG. 5, said positions in each case beingassigned certain operating states of the functional component 2. Theactuation element 21 is movement-coupled to a likewise movably mountedtransducer element 22 of a transducer device 23 that forms part of thecontrol device 7, or in any case communicate therewith, by means ofwhich transducer device corresponding positions of the actuation element21 are converted into corresponding assigned operating states.

Specifically, the functional component 2 in the form of the illuminantmay be deactivated e.g. in a first position such that the latter emitsno light, it may be activated in a first operating state in a secondposition such that said illuminant emits light with certain opticalproperties, i.e. light with a first intensity and a first wavelength,and it may be activated in a second operating state in a third positionsuch that said illuminant emits light with certain optical properties,i.e. light with a second intensity and/or a second wavelength.

On the basis of the longitudinal section shown in FIG. 6, it is clearthat inductive element 4 is arranged below the energy store 3 andconsequently below the longitudinal (central) axis of the handlingportion 20, in particular in the region of the inner side of an outerwall of the handling portion 20, within the main body 14. Thisarrangement of the inductive element 4 is expedient since the inductiveelement 4, firstly, is arranged in a well-protected manner againstexternal influences, i.e., for example, mechanical and/or climaticinfluences, and, secondly, can be brought as close as possible to afurther inductive element 5, which does not form a constituent part ofthe visual aid apparatus 1, within the scope of a charging process forthe energy store 3, ensuring a high effectiveness of the inductiveinteraction and hence of the charging process.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1 Visual aid apparatus-   2 Functional component-   3 Energy store-   4 Inductive element-   5 Inductive element-   6 Charger apparatus-   7 Control device-   8 Output device-   9 Indication device-   10 Housing body-   11 Bearing portion-   12 Receiving portion-   13 Outer contour-   14 Main body-   15 Handling portion-   16 Output device-   17 Electrical connection element-   18 Mounting portion-   19 Optical element-   20 Handling portion-   21 Actuation element-   22 Transducer element-   23 Transducer device-   24 Stop portion

1. Optically or electronically magnifying visual aid apparatus (1) inthe form of a mobile magnifier, comprising: at least one electrical orelectronic functional component (2) that consumes electrical energy inat least one operating state, at least one rechargeable electricalenergy store (3) that is assigned to the at least one electrical orelectronic functional component (2), at least one inductive element (4)that is assigned to the at least one electrical energy store (3) andconfigured to supply the at least one electrical energy store (3) withelectrical energy by way of an inductive interaction with at least onefurther inductive element (5), an elongate main body (14) with at leastone mounting portion (18) for mounting at least one optical element(19), in particular a lens or a magnifying glass, and at least onehandling portion (20) for handling the main body (14), wherein the atleast one inductive element (4) is arranged or embodied at or in themain body (14) in the region of the handling portion (20).
 2. Visual aidapparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least oneinductive element (4) is arranged within the main body (14) below alongitudinal central axis of the handling portion (20), in particular inthe region of the inner side of an outer wall of the handling portion(20).
 3. Visual aid apparatus according to claim 1, characterized inthat the handling portion (20) has, at least in portions, anergonomically formed, in particular bulbous, geometric form.
 4. Visualaid apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by a control device(7) that is configured to control the charge state, in particular thecharging operation, of the at least one electrical energy store (3) andto ascertain at least one charge state and/or charging operationinformation item that describes the charge state and/or the chargingoperation of the at least one electrical energy store (3).
 5. Visual aidapparatus according to claim 4, characterized by at least one outputdevice (8) that is assigned to the control device (7) and configured tooutput at least one charge state and/or charging operation informationitem, ascertained by the control device (7), to a user and/or to auser-side terminal.
 6. Visual aid apparatus according to claim 1,characterized in that the electrical or electronic functional component(2), or at least one electrical or electronic functional component, isembodied as an illuminant, in particular as an LED, or at leastcomprises the latter.
 7. Visual aid apparatus according to claim 6,characterized in that the illuminant is arranged in the region of themounting portion (18) such that light emitted by the illuminant strikesat least the region observed through the optical element.
 8. Visual aidapparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that a stop portion(24) is arranged or embodied between the optical element (19) and thefunctional component (2) embodied as an illuminant, said stop portionbeing configured to prevent light emitted by the illuminant directlystriking the optical element (19).
 9. Visual aid apparatus according toclaim 1, characterized in that the at least one inductive element (4) isembodied as an inductive coil, in particular as an inductive receiver orsecondary coil, or at least comprises the latter.
 10. Visual aidapparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it is embodied asa handheld magnifier or stand magnifier or a hands-free magnifier. 11.Charger apparatus (6) for charging a rechargeable electrical energystore (3) of a visual aid apparatus (1) according to claim 1,characterized by at least one inductive element (5) that is configuredto inductively interact with at least one inductive element (4) assignedto an electrical energy store (3), to be charged, of the visual aidapparatus (1) in order to supply the at least one electrical energystore (3) with electrical energy by way of inductive interaction. 12.Charger apparatus according to claim 11, characterized by a housing body(10) that has at least one receiving portion (13) for receiving, atleast in portions and at least during a charging process of therespectively assigned electrical energy store (3), the visual aidapparatus (1) and/or has at least one bearing portion (11), inparticular at least one flat bearing portion, for bearing the housingbody (10) on a base, in particular a flat base.
 13. Charger apparatusaccording to claim 12, characterized in that the receiving portion (13)has a receiving contour (13) that has an inverted shape to the outercontour of a main body (14), in particular a handling portion (20) ofthe main body (14), of the visual aid apparatus (1).
 14. Chargerapparatus according to claim 11, characterized by a control device thatis configured to control the charging operation of the at least oneelectrical energy store (3) and ascertain at least one chargingoperation information item that describes the charging operation of theat least one electrical energy store.
 15. Charger apparatus according toclaim 14, characterized by at least one output device (16) that isassigned to the control device and configured to output at least onecharging operation information item, ascertained by the control device,to a user and/or to a user-side terminal.
 16. Charging arrangement forcharging a rechargeable electrical energy store (3) of a visual aidapparatus (1) including a charger apparatus (6) according to claim 11.17. Method for charging a rechargeable electrical energy store (3) of avisual aid apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that theat least one electrical energy store (3) is supplied with electricalenergy within the scope of a charging process by way of an inductiveinteraction between the at least one apparatus-side inductive element(4) and at least one further inductive element (5).